They’re Jockeying for Position Down Stretch

Entering the last 18 days of Hollywood Park’s spring-summer meet, Victor Espinoza and Garrett Gomez are tied atop the standings.

Both jockeys have 43 victories.

Espinoza, who was the leading rider during the 2000 spring-summer season, has four mounts on tonight’s card, as does Gomez.

Gomez will be aboard Last Dance For Me in the third, Champagne Dream in the fifth, Alissa’s ATM in the sixth and The Queen’s Silver in the eighth.

Meanwhile, Espinoza’s evening begins with contender Sweet Gazelle in the third, continues with Burning Affair in the sixth, Brave Vixen in the seventh and comebacker Latin Heart in the eighth.

A 3-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat, Sweet Gazelle will be collaborating with Espinoza for the first time as she tries to break her maiden in her ninth career start.

In her last outing, she was third on June 3.

She will break from post six tonight in the $46,000 affair for California bred fillies and mares.

Burning Affair is back on the dirt after beating two on the Golden Gate Fields turf course and her only victory was local.

She broke her maiden in her career debut May 27, 2004.

Race of the day: Laurafina, who was second to the unbeaten Melhor Ainda in the Sands Point on June 5, won’t find any such monsters in today’s eighth at Belmont Park.

Javier Castellano will ride the 3-year-old Cozzene filly for Sabine Stable and trainer Robert Barbara in the $46,000 allowance at one mile on the turf.

Six others are scheduled to run against Laurafina, who has a victory and a second in four career races.

One for the road: Sparkling Sabia should get a great trip stalking the pace from the outside and can win for the fifth time in 11 starts at Arlington Park in today’s fifth.

Shaun Bridgmohan, the meet’s leading rider, has the call for owner-trainer Hugh Robertson in the $31,000 optional claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs.

The 5-year-old Lucky Lionel mare has won nine of 24 in her career.

Exotically speaking: Late daily doubles keying Fortunate Event in the seventh to Pareek, Amanda’s Spell, Latin Heart and To Battle in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/109. Money: Previous day/meet total: $24.60/$555.50. Total money bet: $792.